Lucian Bute (30-1-0, 24 KO) will return to the ring in Montreal on Saturday, November 3rd 2012. His opponent will be undefeated Russian born Denis Grachev (12-0-1, 8 KO). Grachev is coming off a big win over Ismayl Sillakh, and now has an even bigger opportunity against the come-backing Bute, who is in desperate need of his own big win.
“After several talks with Lucian and head trainer Stephan Larouche, we established a complete list of Lucian’s needs and evaluated each opponent in function with such list. We stopped looking once we got to Denis Grachev and got the fight signed. Three of his last four opponents were undefeated, and he KO’d two of them. Grachev is the best available boxer that Lucian can fight,” stated InterBox President Mr. Jean Bedard.
“I would like to thank Mark Dion, Denis Grachev’s Manager, for agreeing to take this fight. So far the entire Team has been very professional.”
In his last outing, Grachev, who resides in San Diego, California, captured the attention of the entire boxing world in defeating one of the most highly regarded Light Heavyweight prospects, Ismayl Sillakh, by way of KO in the 8th round.
“We chose Grachev for his abilities in the ring. I am convinced that his punching power and inside brawler style will be a good test for Lucian,” declared Bute’s head trainer Stephan Larouche.
“I am very happy that this fight is signed,” stated Lucian Bute. “I can’t wait to see my fans again and to fight in front of them at the Montreal Bell Centre. This fight will be the first step of my goal to reconquer the IBF Super Middleweight belt.”
Grachev will put his NABF Light Heavyweight belt on the line for this fight. “This belt was the first one I ever won in my career” concluded Lucian Bute.
Although this fight is signed at a maximum weight of 170 lbs, Lucian Bute remains in the Super Middleweight category.
